Public Service Announcement

A little help and a little cash and a Weedless Wednesday Challenge for National Non-Smoking Week

Jan 18, 2016

Itâ€™s National Non-Smoking Week and there are plenty of incentives being offered to encourage people to make a quit smoking attempt.

It’s National Non-Smoking Week and there are plenty of incentives being offered to encourage people to make a quit smoking attempt.

Party Without the Smoke: If you are between the ages of 19-29 enter the provincial Would-U-Rather contest. There will be four winners picked from those who sign up to either quit, party without the smoke, cut down or stay smoke free. Win up to $2,500. Enter at Wouldurather.ca.

Quit for a week for cash: Quit for seven days starting the first of the month and you could win $500 in the provincial First Week Challenge. If you don’t make it through the whole week try again March 1st and every month till you quit for good. Register at FirstWeekChallenge.ca.

Phone or text support: If you want to quit on your own, you can still get online or text support through Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333.

STOP in the name of health: A free Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

STOP Smoking Workshop includes a five-week supply of the patch to help combat cravings. Info at SimcoeMuskokaHealth.org.

Run, Chill Quit: Nothing like running to test the effects of smoking on your body. Now there’s a website with free help to help you get started running. And — if you decide to quit there’s online help for that too. Find it at RunChillQuit.ca.

Weedless Wednesday Challenge - January 20th, 2016

It’s National Non-Smoking Week and that means the annual Weedless Wednesday challenge.

Regardless of what kind of tobacco industry products you use — cigarettes, cigars, chew or
e-cigarettes — the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is asking you to challenge yourself to quit for the day.

If a full day seems too hard right now, how about stopping from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Or start with smaller chunks of time - don’t light up till after the lunch hour, or limit your cigarettes for the day to half the normal number you smoke.

Want support? Call the Health Connection for resources to help you build on your success. 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Background information on tobacco product use in Simcoe Muskoka

Simcoe Muskoka smoking rates are 20% — 1 in 5 adults — similar to the provincial average

Youth rates (Grades 7 to 12 ) are down to 9%

28% of secondary school students reported they have used e-cigarettes (18% with nicotine)

Half of all current tobacco users say they are thinking about quitting

Half say they will try to quit within six months

Almost 90% of residents say their homes are smoke free

Between 2007 and 2011, there were approximately 500 deaths each year attributed to smoking.

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